Obituary - Martha J. Klontz

Martha Jean Pryor Klontz, 78, Moscow

On the 13th day of Christmas, Martha Jean Pryor Klontz slipped away to heaven from her family and friends. She died from complications of a stroke suffered Nov. 29, 2011, at her home.

There was always a place at her table for neighbors, friends, family, her husband's graduate students, church members, and strangers. Known as "Aunt Martha," she was a gourmet cook who shared her creative dishes and dinner parties with hundreds in her Moscow/Pullman community since arriving here 40 years ago.

Martha's husband, Dr. George William (Bill) Klontz, was a professor at the University of Idaho Department of Fisheries and brought home many graduate students who were far from their homes; she made them part of the family. Martha even created several gourmet home-cooked meals for Lionel Hampton when he came to Moscow for the Jazz Festival.

After the children were grown, Martha created gourmet fish recipes which she presented and served at annual meetings of U.S. Trout Farmers Association and the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association. She also created, demonstrated, taught and served new fish recipes while traveling to Mexico, Australia, South Africa and numerous European countries with her husband during his professional aquaculture trips.

She authored and illustrated a cookbook, "To Cook a Trout," which was available at the conference and professional meetings that she and Bill attended. All of the recipes that she created for the book were tested on family before being selected for publication; it goes without saying her family ate a LOT of fish during that time.

Another of Martha's talents was creating elaborate decorated cakes for special occasions, from christenings to weddings. She also did catering for selected clients for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. The meals that were created were truly a dining experience, with all of the various eating utensils and different plates and glasses for each of the up to 10 courses. It gave her great pleasure to cook for others who appreciated her talent and skills.

Martha gave countless hours volunteering for St. James Episcopal Church in many capacities. One of the most enjoyable for her was to make candles for the altar as well as the hundreds of colored and scented candles that were sold at the church bazaar. One of her annual projects was the creation of the Advent wreath which was hung from the ceiling in the church. It included the star-shaped candles that she made. Both Martha and her husband Bill were lay-readers at St. James and were active in supporting the development of church programs.

Martha was a mentor to many. She taught cooking, sewing, candle making and elaborate cake decorating to others. She studied Theater and Costume Design while attending the University of Washington, and that creative side was utilized in her sewing. Although challenged with health issues for years, Martha traveled extensively around the United States, as well as to Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Jamaica and Europe. In fact, she had just returned from a fall leaf tour to the Northeast, which was something that had been on her "bucket list."

Martha was born Nov. 20, 1933, in Indianapolis. The family moved out west and settled in Richland, when she met Bill. They were married in October of 1953.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her son, Bill; three sisters; and one brother. Survivors are her two daughters. Neighbors, friends, hundreds of informally adopted graduate students and their families also survive, all of whom were always welcome at "Aunt" Martha's table.

A memorial service will be planned for the spring of 2012 at St. James Episcopal Church in Pullman. Those who wish to give a gift in Martha's memory may do so to Cedar Veterinary Hospital in Moscow for their donated medical care for stray animals, Palouse Clearwater Environment Institute or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Lewiston Tribune, December 24, 2011, p. 9C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock